Some media outlets and political pundits declared even before the votes were counted that the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin demonstrated a national backlash against progressive politicians and policy.
This post really should be shopped to major media (cleaned up, unfortunately). TC presents facts and framing (to borrow James Fallows’ term), that are not otherwise readily available.
Also, the Boudin recall demonstrates a serious weakness in ranked choice voting. The weakness is that we can’t do ranked choice voting unless the recall threshold is significantly greater than it is today. Recall electioneering is becoming a standard part of the GOP/corporate playbook, and can just as easily be picked up by the left as well. Ranked choice voting means a minority candidate is being elected if they do not get elected in the first round. Thus, any recall that goes to a vote is nearly guaranteed to succeed. This undermines the main rationale behind ranked choice, that is, to reduce partisan incentives by creating space for compromise candidates who most people can live with even if they don’t support that candidate. The second rationale is to avoid the public expense of a second run off election, which would be an alternative means to find compromise candidates. A recall of a minority candidate breaks the compromise inherent in the original election and puts the public to the expense of an additional round of balloting.
There are many ways to conform the recall process to rank choice voting. A higher petition threshold. A vote requirement significantly greater than a majority (wouldn’t have helped Boudin, however). A requirement that opponents be permitted to stand for election on the same ballot with the incumbent to again be decided by ranked choice voting (thus allowing for a compromise candidate who might just be the incumbent). This last might be the most effective means to tamp down the rush to recall. And it’s a significant departure from the recall system applicable in California for Governor where the recall is decided as a yes or no vote and then a successor is chosen on the same ballot in which the incumbent is not allowed to be selected.
You go up top middle where you can see the address, then highlight it, then click copy, go to here and click paste. It's simple enough even we luddites can get it. :-)
Really good news. I think worthy of me writing about this here, as reinforcement to last week's post. Mister Mallworld finds he can't buy enough votes to not lose!!
Amazing how you manage to dig in to everything so thoroughly TC. I hardly manage to read it all, since I'm already convinced of what you want to tell me. For all the sadness; good hopes!
I'm a little late today because I got caught up in the hearing. But, halfway through reading this very informative and detailed account of what REALLY happened in CA, I was struck by this:
"(Trust me, I am writing this about Boudin despite the fact I knew his parents “back in the day” when they became urban terrorists, and I am of the opinion they should never get out of the slammer.)"
I'm not "up" on Boudin - who he is, who his parents are and why they are in the slammer. Will you ever update us on this, or is it just me?
one of them was in the 12th Street house in the Village that blew up when they were incompetently making bombs there. she survived. her father had been a well-known left-wing lawyer. what year was that? '69? '70? if you're making a general statement about ALL ex-Weather Underground folks, I'm not sure I agree. but a great piece, filled with all kinds of important shit I didn't know. for example, until I read it just now, I was prepared to accept the generally-held and widely published "fact" that this election was a result of anti-progressive backlash. the always-disappointing, almost always infuriating Bill Maher show being a perfect example...the other night he also failed--I think deliberately--to shut up Kellyanne while she spewed her so-called "talking points." I would have thrown her bony ass off. which might account for the state of my net worth.
Well organized… I did not know all this history. I love how the billionaires are going to save us.
This post really should be shopped to major media (cleaned up, unfortunately). TC presents facts and framing (to borrow James Fallows’ term), that are not otherwise readily available.
Also, the Boudin recall demonstrates a serious weakness in ranked choice voting. The weakness is that we can’t do ranked choice voting unless the recall threshold is significantly greater than it is today. Recall electioneering is becoming a standard part of the GOP/corporate playbook, and can just as easily be picked up by the left as well. Ranked choice voting means a minority candidate is being elected if they do not get elected in the first round. Thus, any recall that goes to a vote is nearly guaranteed to succeed. This undermines the main rationale behind ranked choice, that is, to reduce partisan incentives by creating space for compromise candidates who most people can live with even if they don’t support that candidate. The second rationale is to avoid the public expense of a second run off election, which would be an alternative means to find compromise candidates. A recall of a minority candidate breaks the compromise inherent in the original election and puts the public to the expense of an additional round of balloting.
There are many ways to conform the recall process to rank choice voting. A higher petition threshold. A vote requirement significantly greater than a majority (wouldn’t have helped Boudin, however). A requirement that opponents be permitted to stand for election on the same ballot with the incumbent to again be decided by ranked choice voting (thus allowing for a compromise candidate who might just be the incumbent). This last might be the most effective means to tamp down the rush to recall. And it’s a significant departure from the recall system applicable in California for Governor where the recall is decided as a yes or no vote and then a successor is chosen on the same ballot in which the incumbent is not allowed to be selected.
Excellent points, Gary. Everything you just added to what I wrote - the recall process - should also be an article.
Would hate to see your writing "cleaned up" TC.
See the Jessica Schulberg article on HuffPost today. I’m not tech savvy enough to figure out how to copy the link.
You go up top middle where you can see the address, then highlight it, then click copy, go to here and click paste. It's simple enough even we luddites can get it. :-)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/california-criminal-justice-reform-primary_n_62acc748e4b04a61735c535d
Really good news. I think worthy of me writing about this here, as reinforcement to last week's post. Mister Mallworld finds he can't buy enough votes to not lose!!
See, I told you it was easy. :-)
Write that, please.
Amazing how you manage to dig in to everything so thoroughly TC. I hardly manage to read it all, since I'm already convinced of what you want to tell me. For all the sadness; good hopes!
I'm a little late today because I got caught up in the hearing. But, halfway through reading this very informative and detailed account of what REALLY happened in CA, I was struck by this:
"(Trust me, I am writing this about Boudin despite the fact I knew his parents “back in the day” when they became urban terrorists, and I am of the opinion they should never get out of the slammer.)"
I'm not "up" on Boudin - who he is, who his parents are and why they are in the slammer. Will you ever update us on this, or is it just me?
Google him and you'll find out his parents are Weatherman terrorists.
one of them was in the 12th Street house in the Village that blew up when they were incompetently making bombs there. she survived. her father had been a well-known left-wing lawyer. what year was that? '69? '70? if you're making a general statement about ALL ex-Weather Underground folks, I'm not sure I agree. but a great piece, filled with all kinds of important shit I didn't know. for example, until I read it just now, I was prepared to accept the generally-held and widely published "fact" that this election was a result of anti-progressive backlash. the always-disappointing, almost always infuriating Bill Maher show being a perfect example...the other night he also failed--I think deliberately--to shut up Kellyanne while she spewed her so-called "talking points." I would have thrown her bony ass off. which might account for the state of my net worth.
1970 - Kathy Boudin - his mother
I figured it was '70 because I was out of the country in'69. I saw the ruined house a day or so after it blew up.
Wow.
TC, you are one of the few substack writer I support. I would support more if I could afford it.
I thank all of you who do - you make me do better to be worthy of your support.
Eat the rich.